Baco Club
Marc Hébrart
Special Club Brut 1er Cru Champagne Blend 2018
This is the 2018 Marc Hébrart Brut ‘Special Club’ – a beautiful bottle of vintage bubbles hailing from a collection of premier and grand cru sites in the Marne and Montagne de Reims regions of Champagne, France.
When you see “Special Club” on the label of a bottle with this distinctive shape, you’re dealing with essentially a prestige cuvée of a grower-producer who’s a member of the “Club Trésors.”
Marc Hébrart joined the Club Trésors in 1985, which is an association of quality-minded grower-producers. Grower-producers operate differently than the big champagne houses (e.g., Veuve-Clicquot) in that they are smaller-scale vignerons who own the entire production process from the vineyard to the winery and cellar.
They have helped raise awareness and appreciation of artisanal champagne wines that speak to a sense of place and personality, unobscured by extensive, widespread blending.
To achieve the status of “Special Club” a wine must undergo a rigorous application process and meet minimum quality metrics culminating with in two blind tasting panels – the first tasting evaluates the base wine after the first fermentation; the second and final tasting occurs after a minimum of three years aging sur lie.
From our studies we’ve learned the 2018 vintage bore above-average fruit; the warm and dry summer paved the way for a riper expression in an otherwise marginal climate. This wine is made with 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay.
The bouquet has a medium (+) intensity of yellow and green apple, lemon zest, white peach, gardenia, almond biscotti, nougat, pastry, biscuit, and toast notes. The palate is creamy with vibrant acidity, adding lift, a fine-beaded, persistent mousse and long, elegant finish.
— 3 months ago
Bodegas Forcada
Flor de Baco Crianza Rioja Tempranillo Blend
Very easy drinking with some spiciness at a very reasonable price — 3 months ago
Paul Bara
Special Club Brut Grand Cru Champagne 2002
Truly spectacular! — 4 months ago
Folias de Baco
Uivo Renegado Vinas Velhas Red Blend 2018
Portuguese Field blend of Tints Barroca, Tinta Roriz and Rufete. Dark ruby color with a thin garnet rim. Aromas and flavors of black and red bramble berries, baking spices and roasted meat. Quite concentrated and bold. Touch of oak, vanilla and dill on the long and lingering finish. Nicely integrated (soft) tannins and medium-plus acidity. Nice intensity. Thank you for opening this wine, Ron B! — 7 months ago
Ed Chin
Bruised apples and bread that was just fabulously balanced by the acidity. I would have scored higher if the bubbles were more present. — 19 days ago